Black Lung Comp Forms: DOL Invites Public Comments

2026-11140 — Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations

Starting soon, health plans and insurers must share clearer info when they pay or deny surprise medical bills. They’ll use special codes to explain these decisions, especially when dealing with folks they don’t have contracts with. This helps patients and providers understand bills better and speeds up fixing disputes, with no extra costs for most people.

2026-11093 — Amending the Medical Evaluation Requirements in the Respiratory Protection Standard for Certain Types of Respirators

OSHA wants to make it easier for workers using certain respirators by removing some medical check-ups for filtering facepiece and loose-fitting powered air-purifying respirators. This change affects workers who wear these masks and could save time and money on medical evaluations. The public can share their thoughts until July 6, 2026, before the rule is finalized.

2026-10849 — Labor Organization Annual Financial Reports

Starting July 1, 2026, big labor groups will fill out a longer financial report to boost transparency, while medium-sized groups get updated forms too. These changes help everyone see how union money is handled and apply only to fiscal years beginning after that date. If your labor organization handles $350,000 or more, get ready for clearer, more detailed reporting!

2026-10456 — Department of Labor Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2026

Good news for businesses and workers: the Department of Labor won’t raise any fines or penalties in 2026 because the usual inflation data wasn’t available. This means all civil penalties stay the same starting May 27, 2026. So, no surprise cost hikes this year—just steady rules and steady fees!

2026-07959 — Joint Employer Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act

The Department of Labor is proposing clear rules to decide when two companies share responsibility for workers’ rights under key laws like minimum wage, family leave, and farmworker protections. This change helps workers and employers understand who’s in charge and makes enforcement fair and consistent across the country. If finalized, these rules could affect many businesses and workers starting soon, with potential impacts on compliance costs and legal clarity.

2026-05492 — Retirement Security Rule: Definition of an Investment Advice Fiduciary: Notice of Court Vacatur

The court has canceled the Department of Labor’s 2024 rule that changed who counts as a trusted investment advisor for retirement plans. Starting April 20, 2026, the old rules from 2020 will be back in charge, affecting financial advisors and retirement plan managers. This means advisors should review their practices to stay on the right side of the law and avoid costly mistakes.

Previous: 2026-04717 — Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Employee Retirement Income Security Act Summary Annual Report Requirement

The Department of Labor is asking for public feedback on the rules about sending yearly summary reports to employees about their retirement plans. This affects companies that manage employee benefits, making sure workers get clear, easy-to-understand updates about their plan’s health. Comments are open until April 10, 2026, and the goal is to keep info useful without making paperwork a headache.

Next: 2026-04720 — FM Approvals LLC: Grant of Expansion of Recognition and Modification to the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards

OSHA just gave FM Approvals LLC a bigger thumbs-up to test and certify more products by adding a new test standard to their official list. This means FM can now help more companies prove their products are safe, starting March 11, 2026. If you make or use certified products, this update could speed up safety approvals without extra costs.